The landlord class in China weakened the state through economic exploitation, social unrest, resistance to modernization, and loss of tax revenue. They held large amounts of land and profited from the labor of peasants, leading to widespread poverty and economic inequality. This weakened the country's productivity and hindered its development. The landlord class also resisted modernization efforts, preventing the state from effectively implementing necessary changes for progress. Additionally, they often evaded paying taxes, further weakening the state's finances and limiting the government's ability to invest in infrastructure, education, and essential services. Overall, the landlord class's economic exploitation, social unrest, resistance to modernization, and tax evasion weakened the Chinese state, impeding economic growth, causing social instability, obstructing reforms, and undermining the state's financial capacity.